The sports at Morice-Town Fair, Plymouth-Dock, last week, afforded much amusement. On Thursday the wrestling matches began, in which 22 standards, comprising the best players in Devon and Cornwall, among others the two Jordans, Jackman, Polkinghorne, Flower, Cann, Cowling, Webber, &c. &c. maintained the character of their respective counties with matchless strength and dexterity. The […]
The Wrestling-Match at Ide, yesterday, afforded great amusement to the lovers of that manly and athletic diversion; a number of first-rate players attended from different parts of the County, and most of the matches were strongly contested.—The play was kept up, with great spirit, until two o’clock this morning, when the prize was won by […]
The men of the moors in Devonshire, and the adjacent county, being famous for wrestling, we may add to what has been said upon the subject, from the observations of old Carew, who in his quaint style remarked, “You shall hardly find an assembly of boys in Devon and Cornwall, where the most untowardly among them will not as […]
The Topsham Annual Wrestling Match commenced in the Bowling-Green, at the Salutation Inn, on Monday forenoon, and was not concluded until near three o’clock this morning. There were 14 double-players, and many of the matches were strongly contested. The 1st and 2d prizes were won by Abraham and James Cann, of Cheriton-Bishop, and the 3d […]
The Topsham Annual Wrestling Match commenced in the Bowling-Green, at the Salutation Inn, on Monday forenoon, and was not concluded until near three o’clock this morning. There were 14 double-players, and many of the matches were strongly contested. The 1st and 2d prizes were won by Abraham and James Cann, of Cheriton-Bishop, and the 3d […]
Wrestling.—At Kingsbridge the famous Cann was again victorious. Some of the play was very good: many of the Devonshire veterans played, among them the venerable Flower.
WRESTLING.—The grand Wrestling Match, which took place at Okehampton on Thursday and Friday last, has, as was anticipated, afforded one of the richest treats ever witnessed by the admirers of this manly exercise, the excellent science and John Bull like courage here displayed, excited the admiration and applause of every one present. By 1 o’clock, […]
WRESTLING.—The grand Wrestling Match, which took place at Okehampton on Thursday and Friday last, has, as was anticipated, afforded one of the richest treats ever witnessed by the admirers of this manly exercise, the excellent science and John Bull like courage here displayed, excited the admiration and applause of every one present. By 1 o’clock, […]
A grand wrestling match took place at Ashburton on the 18th and 19th. A man named THORN of Widecombe-in-the Moor, possessed immense strength and who had distinguished himself in the Life Guards at Waterloo, had been put into training by some gentlemen at Ashburton, for the purpose of pitting him against the champion, Abraham CANN. […]
WRESTLING.—We have before had occasion to advert to the idle stories, which have found their way into the London prints, relative to a challenge given from Cornwall, to back Polkinhorn and Parkin, against the champion A. Cann, and Jordan, to wrestle for 100 guineas,—but we now find the same system of deception is practising nearer […]
WRESTLING.—We have before had occasion to advert to the false stories, which have found their way into the London prints, relative to a challenge given from Cornwall, to back Polkinhorn and Parkin, against the champion A. Cann, and Jordan, to wrestle for 100 guineas. (COPY.) TRULL, 11th August, 1825. SIR,—A challenge having been given by […]
WRESTLING.—The Rival Champions.—The Amateurs of this ancient and truly noble sport, may expect soon to have one of the greatest treats ever experienced in this or any other part of England, in a contest between the renowned Devonshire Champion Abraham Cann, y’clept the Nonpareil, and the no less celebrated Polkinghorn, of Cornwall. “St. Thomas, near […]
WRESTLING.—The Rival Champions.—The Amateurs of this ancient and truly noble sport, may expect soon to have one of the greatest treats ever experienced in this or any other part of England, in a contest between the renowned Devonshire Champion Abraham Cann, y’clept the Nonpareil, and the no less celebrated Polkinghorn, of Cornwall.—The time and place […]
WRESTLING.—The Rival Champions.—The Amateurs of this ancient and truly noble sport, may expect soon to have one of the greatest treats ever experienced in this or any other part of England, in a contest between the renowned Devonshire Champion Abraham Cann, y’clept the Nonpareil, and the no less celebrated Polkinghorn, of Cornwall. St. Thomas, near […]
WRESTLING.—At Morchard Grand Wrestling Match, yesterday and to day, for 12 Sovereigns, the Champion A Cann was thrown by the younger Dartmouth, by an unlucky fall, after 35 minutes severe play. Mr. Wreford carried off the first prize, and James Cann won the second; during the play A Cann’s shoe was thrown out by the […]
WRESTLING—We this week present our readers with verbatim copies of the answer of Polkinhorne to Abm. Cann’s letter. To Mr. ABRAHAM CANN, St. Thomas, Exeter. SIR,—I acquainted you that my answer letter of Sept. 26, now near three months past, was laid before the stewards of the Champion Belt, at Bristol, and published in the […]
WRESTLING—We this week present our readers with verbatim copies of the answer of Polkinhorne to Abm. Cann‘s letter, inserted in our paper of the 25th instant, together with the rejoinder of the latter:—comment from us is almost wholly unnecessary, the letters will bear pride for themselves; but we cannot avoid the strong impression we have, […]
Portrait of Abraham Cann, whole length, standing outdoors, directed slightly to left, making wrestling moves; wearing half-open jacket fastened with strings, breeches and stockings; top hat lying on the ground at his foot at left. Lithograph Printed by: Thomas Bayly Published by: J Penny Published by: John Dickinson – https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0612-1077 Inscription content: Lettered below image with the […]
WRESTLING. THE amateurs of athletic performances were gratified towards the end of last month, with an exhibition of the old national feat of wrestling. Several matches were played between Devonshire and Cornwall men, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, at the Eagle Tavern green, in the City Road.—The science displayed on the occasion shows, that […]
WRESTLING.—The Exeter, the grand Metropolitan Match, commenced on Monday morning, at eleven o’clock, in the spacious ring in St. Thomas. The Champion entered the ring at six o’clock; he entered with the band playing “See the conquering Hero comes.” No time was lost, and stout, young, and prime as was his opponent, in two minutes […]
WRESTLING.—A. Cann, the Champion of England, and Polkinghorne.—Perhaps there never was more evasion practised, or so much idle chaffing as on the subject of a match between these men. “My Dear Sir, In answer to your Letter bearing date the 13th inst I beg to state, that it would have been an agreeable surprise, had […]
WRESTLING.—Yesterday, about two thousand persons were assembled in the bowling-green of the Eagle Tavern, in the City-road, to witness the conclusion of the Cornish wrestling. The sport was finished by Warren, a Cornishman, and Abraham Cann, the Devonshire Champion, who contended for the first prize, ten sovereigns, which was won by Cann. He is a […]
Grand Devonshire & Cornish Wrestling Match, in London. A very interesting match has been played between the Cornish and Devonshire men in London, which was decided on Thursday at the Eagle Tavern, City Road. WEDNESDAY, (Third Day.)—Of four and twenty men who entitled themselves to enter the lists for the double play, 14 were Devonshire […]
THE LONDON MAGAZINE, 1826. WRESTLING. THE amateurs of athletic performances were gratified towards the end of last month, with an exhibition of the old national feat of wrestling. Several matches were played between Devonshire and Cornwall men, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, at the Eagle Tavern green, in the City Road. The variety of […]
The interest excited by the forthcoming wrestling match at Devonport is very great, and it is understood that persons from every part of the two counties and even from a greater distance are preparing to attend it.
WRESTLING.— Grand Match between the Champions at Devonport.—Expectation is wound to its highest pitch for the issue of this match, and the numbers preparing to move towards Devonport from both counties are very great; the Devonporters have entered into the business with an energy that reflects on them the highest credit, and we can most […]
[WRESTLING]. Pair of Hand-Colored Portraits of Famous British Wrestlers who Faced Each Other in the Ring. Including: [CANN, Abraham, subject]. “The Wrestling Champion of England, Abraham Cann. Who challenges all the World for 100 Sovereigns…” [Exeter: Geo. Rowe, Aug. 10th, 1826]. Hand-colored full-length portrait of Cann in profile outdoors, with caption. 12 ¾ x 9”. […]
Line drawing of the wrestling venue for the famous Abraham Cann versus James Polkinghorne challenge match, The Alfred – West of England Journal – General Advertiser, 24th October 1826.
Wrestling at Devonport: THE RIVAL CHAMPIONS, CANN and POLKINHORN. Anxious at all times to give the fullest and most impartial intelligence of all public events, our Reporter was sent specially to Devonport to attend the great Match at Wrestling between the Rival Champions at that place,—the following is a correct account of the whole proceedings:— […]
Created by the British engraver Richard Gilson Reeve. The print commemorates the historic, highly-publicised inter-county wrestling match that took place on October 26, 1826, between the Cornish champion James Polkinghorne and the Devonshire champion Abraham Cann. The event drew over 10,000 spectators and remains one of the most famous encounters in the history of traditional […]
The Devonshire Wrestling Society archive has been assembled over more than twelve years of systematic research into the history of Westcountry martial arts. When this work began, the documentary record was sparse and dispersed: sources were few, descriptions were thin, and access required navigating institutional barriers that most researchers would not have the time or resources to overcome. The archive now comprises 421 records — 322 newspaper articles (1778–1947), 35 manuscripts, 11 posters, 48 books, one letters patent, two cemetery inscriptions, and two memorials — spanning approximately one thousand years of history across five defined periods and three core disciplines: wrestling, cudgelling, and pugilism.
The material has been drawn from archives, museums, and libraries at both local and national level, as well as from diaspora communities. Access varied considerably: some holdings were straightforwardly available through public or gated online repositories; others required direct institutional inquiry, formal licensing, or payment. Licence fees for individual items have, in some cases, reached several hundred pounds. Items acquired under licence are retained for private research purposes only and are not published. A small number of items from private collections likewise remain unpublished, pending permission. All records for which publication rights have been secured are made freely and openly available.
The cost of the archive — in time and in money — has been substantial. It is offered without charge because the traditions it documents belong to the communities that produced them, and because those who come after should not be required to repeat the effort already expended.
Every record in the archive was acquired through a consistent five-stage process:
Identification. Awareness of potential sources was established through systematic searches of public and private institutional indexes worldwide, and through direct correspondence with subject specialists already engaged with relevant holdings.
Access. Depending on the institution, access was obtained through online repositories, direct application, or formal licensing. Correspondence was initiated with several hundred institutions over the course of the project. Where institutions confirmed the absence of relevant holdings, this was recorded. Where access was granted, the means of access was documented.
Storage. All acquired material is held in a single centralised repository, ensuring that research access is permanent and that no duplication of acquisition effort is necessary.
Preparation. Every record has been transcribed to render it fully searchable and taggable. Images have been assigned metadata recording provenance, licensing terms, and resolution specifications for publication purposes.
Publication. The publicly available inventory represents all records for which the requisite permissions have been obtained.
In order to ensure consistency and intellectual coherence across the archive, all prospective additions are evaluated against the following criteria, which are applied collectively and in sequence. A record should satisfy the majority of these criteria before inclusion is considered.
Relevance. The record must have a demonstrable and direct connection to the Six Shires (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire) as the location of practice, the origin of practitioners, or the primary institutional context. Records concerning Westcountry practitioners competing elsewhere (in London, the United States, or South Africa, for example) are eligible where the practitioner’s regional identity is explicitly identified in the source. Records documenting the export of Westcountry martial arts beyond Britain are admissible and desirable, consistent with existing holdings relating to California, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa. The record must concern one or more of the three disciplines in scope: Westcountry wrestling (Devonshire or Cornish style), cudgelling or single-stick as practised in the region, or pugilism and boxing with a demonstrable Westcountry connection. Records documenting the co-occurrence of two or more disciplines are particularly valuable and should be prioritised.
Integrity. The source must be primary or a reliable early secondary record. For newspaper sources, this means a contemporaneous report; for books, a first or early edition, or a verified transcription thereof. Secondary scholarship is admissible where it contains primary-source quotations not otherwise independently accessible, provided these are clearly identified as such.
Balanced representation. The curatorial target is approximate parity — not of record count, which will inevitably reflect the uneven survival of evidence — but of intellectual representation across the three core disciplines. Where any discipline is underrepresented relative to this target, acquisitions in that discipline should be prioritised accordingly.
Material culture. Physical objects — trophies, belts, equipment, and architectural features — are admissible where they carry inscriptions or documentary provenance that independently attest to the practice of a discipline in the region.
Verifiability. The source must be identifiable with sufficient bibliographic precision to be cited in APA format and, where possible, to be independently verified by a reader consulting the original. Oral tradition, undocumented folklore, and secondary paraphrases without citation do not meet this standard. Where a source is available online, a direct URL must be provided.
